Prepare your documents
When you apply to study, you need to send us certified copies of your documents. If your documents are not in English, you will need to get them translated.
On this page you'll find information about certified copies and details for additional documents that may be required with your application.
Certified copies
| What is a certified copy? | Translating your documents to English | Fake or forged documents |
| Getting your documents certified | Proof of Identity |
Additional requirements
| Audition | Portfolio | Statement of (Academic) Intent/Purpose |
| Curriculum Vitae (CV) | Referees | Transfer of credit |
| Finding a supervisor | Research proposal | Writing sample |
| Police report | Showreel |
What is a certified copy?
A certified copy is a photocopy of an original document (not a fax or a download) that has been made in front of someone official.
Your certified copies must be clear and legible and may be provided electronically (in high-quality PDF format) or in hard copy. See an example of a certified document.
Please do not provide any original documents.
Getting your documents certified
Any documents you submit as part of your application must be certified by an acceptable certification body or official as a true copy of the original document.
They must check and date stamp every page of a document with a certifying statement. For example, ‘original sighted’—with the full name, title, and signature of the person providing this certification on each page.
Acceptable authorities for certifying documents are:
- New Zealand consular official of an embassy/high commission
- government/municipal official with the legal right to take official declarations
- notary service with the legal right to take official declarations or with an official apostille stamp
- officer of the court with the legal right to take official declarations
- justice of the peace with the legal right to take official declarations
- registrar (or equivalent) from the academic institution who awarded the qualification—for academic document issued by this institute only
- Victoria University of Wellington approved international education agent.
If you need help with certifying your documents or with applying, find an approved agent.
If your documents are not in English
If your documents are not written in English, they must be translated by an official/professional (certified) translator who the University is able to identify and contact (if necessary). The University does not stipulate which translator to engage. These translations will also need to be certified.
You must then submit certified copies of both the English translation and the original translated document with your application.
Proof of identity
You must send us a certified copy of your passport.
If the name on your application does not match the name on your passport you must also send us a certified copy of your marriage certificate or Name-change deed poll to match the name you used on your application.
Certified birth certificates can be accepted for application purposes; however, a certified copy of your passport must be submitted in order to receive your Offer of Place.
Submitting fake or forged documents
If you submit fake or forged documents in support of your application, we will:
- refuse or cancel your admission or enrolment
- not accept any future admission applications from you
- notify Immigration New Zealand and the New Zealand Police
- notify other New Zealand universities.
Make sure you are aware of our terms and conditions of applying.
Additional requirements
Some programmes have additional requirements for an application. Please check the programme page to find out whether you need to provide any of the additional requirements below.
Audition
Unless specified otherwise, you can submit a recorded audition. It should be an unedited recording with clear audio and your hands visible at all times (no cuts or zooms). Check the relevant degree pages for any specific audition requirements.
Curriculum Vitae (CV)
Your CV should be current and in English. It should outline your full work (including paid and voluntary work) and education history in chronological order. You should include any publications, productions you were involved in, and any prizes and scholarships you have received. Keep your CV concise (1-2 pages).
Finding a supervisor
For the best possible outcome, we recommend you include these points when reaching out to academics:
- Be clear about the goal of your intended research
- Consider the suitability of your academic background to the teaching and research of the programme you want to study
- Browse faculty, school and academics' web pages to find out about research areas and strengths
- Keep your enquiries to academic staff members concise - most of them receive large volumes of research enquiries
- List your own academic, work and/or research background when you email academic staff
- Avoid generic emails - tailor your content to this University's academic and research areas.
Search for the right academic by visiting our Research and Academic Staff Directory and Finding a Supervisor pages. Alternatively, you can contact our Postgraduate Coordinators who can guide you in the right direction.
Police report
Unless otherwise stated, you should provide a police report from each country that you have lived in for more than 12 months within the last 10 years. Police reports are usually valid for 6 months.
Portfolio
A portfolio is the submission of a variety of work, preferably no more than 10 pieces. Show your research and design process in addition to your final design outputs. Portfolios should be submitted via weblinks. Check the relevant degree pages for any specific portfolio requirements.
Referees
Referees are individuals who can certify your suitability for your chosen programme. Referees cannot be family or friends. A professional programme application requires employment references. A research-focused programme requires academic references.
We require an email address and contact number for each of your referees.
Research proposal
A research proposal should be 1-2 pages in length and focus on:
- What specific issue or question are you interested in researching?
- Why do you think this topic needs further research (if it has been researched before)?
- How do you plan to research this issue?
- What particular obstacles or challenges, if any, do you anticipate in conducting this research?
- What academic, professional, or personal background has prepared you to undertake this research?
Showreel
This is a short sequence of your work edited together to showcase your particular production strengths and skills. Present your role(s) in each film and provide brief details about the films. Showreels should be submitted via weblinks. Check the relevant degree pages for any specific showreel requirements.
Statement of (Academic) Intent/Purpose
This is a one-page document which explains why you want to study this programme and what you intend to gain from it. We expect that your career and academic intentions will match how the programme is described in the overview section of the programme page. If this is required for a research-based programme, the statement should focus on your research intention.
This statement should be as detailed as possible. If an academic is unsure about your intentions, they may request an interview.
Transfer of credit
If you have studied at another institution at tertiary level, you may be able to credit some of those courses towards your degree at our university. You are more likely to be granted a credit transfer for 100-level courses (first-year undergraduate level). In some circumstances, a credit transfer may be granted at higher levels at the faculty’s discretion. The amount of credit granted to the degree at our university depends on various factors (e.g., similarity of course content, grades). There is a maximum number of credits that can be transferred. Please provide a detailed course outline of your programme and a grading scale with your application.
See our page on credit transfer and exemptions for more details.